Quick facts: Washington
- Free first
- Google Business Profile, reviews, past customers, referrals
- Paid
- Google Local Services Ads, Thumbtack, Angi, Yelp, Nextdoor ads
- Fix before you pay
- Answering, booking rate, pricing, follow-up
- Track
- Cost per booked job, not cost per lead
Fees, rules and rates change, often on July 1 and January 1. Verify every item with the responsible agency before you rely on it.
Short answer: Start with the free sources: a complete Google Business Profile, a steady flow of reviews, your past customers and referrals. Then add paid lead platforms one at a time and judge each by cost per booked job, not cost per lead. Before paying for more leads, fix the leaks: missed calls, a low booking rate, and prices that do not cover your costs.
Updated October 12, 2026. Requirements and fees change; confirm with the agency named on this page.
If you are searching for leads, you are probably slow. Every contractor has been there. Before you buy leads, know that most slow shops are not short of calls; they are losing the calls they already get. Here is the order that works.
1. Free sources first
- Google Business Profile: free, and it is how most local customers find you on Search and Maps.
- Reviews: ask every happy customer, every time. See getting reviews without discounts.
- Past customers: a call or a card at the right time. See thank-you notes.
- Referrals: ask, and make it easy. See getting referrals.
- Free pages on Nextdoor and Yelp.
2. Fix the leaks before you pay
- Missed calls: what to do with calls while you are on a job.
- Booking rate: how many calls become jobs.
- Price: price so every job pays, and raise your average ticket.
3. Then paid, one at a time
- Google Local Services Ads: pay per lead.
- Thumbtack: pay to respond to or receive requests.
- Angi and HomeAdvisor: leads, ads and memberships.
Measure each by cost per booked job. See are paid lead services worth it and are you spending too much on marketing.
Where Contractor Lane Operator fits
Leads only pay if you answer, book, price and close them. Operator audits your business, shows where your lead flow is leaking, and gives you the next steps and the team training to fix it, for $79 a month, cancel anytime. Use it alongside any lead source on this page.
You can piece all of this together from a dozen searches, or have it in one place, in order, matched to your business. That is the trade Operator makes.
General education, not legal, tax or financial advice. Talk to a licensed professional about your situation.
Want it handled, not just explained?
Operator is the AI business coach for contractors.
A business audit and a plan, an online mentor you can ask any time, team training for your crew, and deadline reminders. $79/month, any state, cancel anytime.
Common questions
How can a contractor get more leads for free?
A complete Google Business Profile, steady reviews, calling past customers, asking for referrals, and free business pages on Nextdoor and Yelp.
Should I pay for leads as a new contractor?
Only after the free sources are set up and you can answer and book the calls you already get. Then test one paid source at a time and judge it by cost per booked job.
Why am I getting calls but not jobs?
Usually missed calls, slow call-backs, a low booking rate or price. Fix those before buying more leads.
Sources
Official pages checked on 2026-10-12.